Aracinovo, Berovo, Bitola, Bogdanci, Bogovinje, Bosilovo, Brvenica,
Butel (Skopje), Cair (Skopje), Caska, Centar (Skopje), Centar Zupa,
Cesinovo, Cucer Sandevo, Debar, Debarca, Delcevo, Demir Hisar, Demir
Kapija, Dojran, Dolneni, Dorce Petrov (Gjorce Petrov) (Skopje),
Drugovo, Gazi Baba (Skopje), Gevgelija, Gostivar, Gradsko, Ilinden,
Jegunovce, Karbinci, Karpos (Skopje), Kavadarci, Kicevo, Kisela Voda
(Skopje), Kocani, Konce, Kratovo, Kriva Palanka, Krivogastani,
Krusevo, Kumanovo, Lipkovo, Lozovo, Makedonska Kamenica, Makedonski
Brod, Mavrovo i Rostusa, Mogila, Negotino, Novaci, Novo Selo, Ohrid,
Oslomej, Pehcevo, Petrovec, Plasnica, Prilep, Probistip, Radovis,
Rankovce, Resen, Rosoman, Saraj (Skopje), Sopiste, Staro Nagoricane,
Stip, Struga, Strumica, Studenicani, Suto Orizari (Skopje), Sveti
Nikole, Tearce, Tetovo, Valandovo, Vasilevo, Veles, Vevcani, Vinica,
Vranestica, Vrapciste, Zajas, Zelenikovo, Zelino, Zrnovci
note: the 10 municipalities followed by Skopje in parentheses
collectively constitute the larger Skopje Municipality
Independence:
8 September 1991 (referendum by registered voters endorsed
independence from Yugoslavia)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 8 September (1991); also known as National Day
Constitution:
adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991; amended
November 2001, 2005 and in 2009
note: amended November 2001 by a series of new constitutional
amendments strengthening minority rights, in 2005 with amendments
related to the judiciary, and in 2009 with amendments related to the
threshold required to elect the president
Legal system:
based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Gjorge IVANOV (since 12 May 2009)
head of government: Prime Minister Nikola GRUEVSKI (since 26 August
2006)
cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the majority vote of all
the deputies in the Assembly; note - current cabinet formed by the
government coalition parties VMRO/DPMNE, BDI/DUI, and several small
parties
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); two-round election: first round held
on 22 March 2009, second round held on 5 April 2009 (next to be held
in March 2014); prime minister elected by the Assembly following
legislative elections
election results: Gjorge IVANOV elected president on second-round
ballot; percent of vote - Gjorge IVANOV 63.1%, Ljubomir FRCKOSKI
36.9%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Assembly or Sobranie (120 seats; members elected by
popular vote from party lists based on the percentage of the overall
vote the parties gain in each of six electoral districts; members
serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 1 June and 15 June 2008 (next to be held by
July 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - VMRO-DPMNE-led block
49%, SDSM-led block 24%, BDI/DUI 13%, PDSh/DPA 8%, other 6%; seats
by party - VMRO-DPMNE-led block 63, SDSM-led block 27, BDI/DUI 18,
PDSh/DPA 11, PEI 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Constitutional Court; Republican Judicial Council
note: the Assembly appoints the judges
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Alliance or DS [Pavle TRAJANOV]; Democratic Party of
Serbs in Macedonia [Ivan STOILJKOVIC]; Democratic Party of the
Albanians or PDSh/DPA [Menduh THACI]; Democratic Party of Turks in
Macedonia [Kenan HASIPI]; Democratic Union for Integration or
BDI/DUI [Ali AHMETI]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary
Organization--Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity
(VMRO-DPMNE) [Nikola GRUEVSKI]; Liberal Democratic Party or LDP
[Jovan MANSIJEVSKI]; Liberal Party [Borce STOJANOVSKI]; Movement for
Reconstruction of Macedonia or DOM [Liljana POPOVSKA]; New
Alternative [Gjorgji OROVCANEC]; New Democracy or DR [Imer SELMANI];
New Social-Democratic Party or NSDP [Tito PETKOVSKI]; Party for
Democratic Action in Macedonia or SDAM [Avdija PEPIC]; Party for
European Future or PEI [Fijat CANOSKI]; Social-Democratic Union of
Macedonia or SDSM [Branko CRVENKOVSKI]; Socialist Party or SP
[Ljubisav IVANOV-ZINGO]; Union of Roma of Macedonia [Amdi BAJRAM];
United for Macedonia or OM [Ljube BOSKOVSKI]; VMRO-Macedonian
[Borislav STOJMENOV]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Federation of Free Trade Unions [Svetlana PETROVIC]; Federation of
Trade Unions [Vanco MURATOVSKI]; Trade Union of Education, Science
and Culture [Dojcin CVETANOSKI]
International organization participation:
BIS, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM
(observer), IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP,
SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Zoran JOLEVSKI
chancery: 2129 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 667-0501
FAX: [1] (202) 667-2131
consulate(s) general: Southfield (Michigan), Chicago
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Philip T. REEKER
embassy: Str. Samolilova, Nr. 21, 1000 Skopje
mailing address: American Embassy Skopje, US Department of State,
7120 Skopje Place, Washington, DC 20521-7120 (pouch)
telephone: [389] 2 310-2000
FAX: [389] 2 310-2499
Flag description:
a yellow sun (the Sun of Liberty) with eight broadening rays
extending to the edges of the red field; the red and yellow colors
have long been associated with Macedonia
National anthem:
name: "Denes Nad Makedonija" (Today Over Macedonia)
lyrics/music: Vlado MALESKI/Todor SKALOVSKI
note: adopted 1991; the song, written in 1943, previously served as
the anthem of the Socialist Republic of Macedonia while part of
Yugoslavia
Economy ::Macedonia
Economy - overview:
Having a small, open economy makes Macedonia vulnerable to economic
developments in Europe and dependent on regional integration and
progress toward EU membership for continued economic growth. At
independence in September 1991, Macedonia was the least developed of
the Yugoslav republics, producing a mere 5% of the total federal
output of goods and services. The collapse of Yugoslavia ended
transfer payments from the central government and eliminated
advantages from inclusion in a de facto free trade area. An absence
of infrastructure, UN sanctions on the downsized Yugoslavia, and a
Greek economic embargo over a dispute about the country's
constitutional name and flag hindered economic growth until 1996.
Since then, Macedonia has maintained macroeconomic stability with
low inflation, but it has so far lagged the region in attracting
foreign investment and creating jobs, despite making extensive
fiscal and business sector reforms. Official unemployment remains
high at 33%, but may be overstated based on the existence of an
extensive gray market, estimated to be more than 20% of GDP, that is
not captured by official statistics. In the wake of the global
economic downturn, Macedonia has experienced decreased foreign
direct investment, lowered credit, and a large trade deficit, but
the financial system remained sound. Macroeconomic stability was
maintained by a prudent monetary policy, which kept the domestic
currency at the pegged level against the euro, at the expense of
raising interest rates. As a result, GDP fell in 2009. but returned
to positive in 2010.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$19.46 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
$19.18 billion (2009 est.)
$19.31 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars; Macedonia has a large informal
sector
GDP (official exchange rate):
$9.58 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
-0.7% (2009 est.)
4.8% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$9,400 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
$9,300 (2009 est.)
$9,400 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 12.1%
industry: 29.6%
services: 58.3% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
942,000 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 18.6%
industry: 29.5%
services: 51.9% (September 2009)
Unemployment rate:
33.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
32.2% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
28.7% (2008)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.4%
highest 10%: 29.6% (2003)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
39 (2003)
country comparison to the world: 68
Investment (gross fixed):
22.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
Public debt:
25.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
32.4% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
-0.8% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
6.5% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 62
6.5% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
10.07% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
9.68% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$1.146 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 137
$1.184 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$4.134 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
$4.217 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$4.001 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
$4.055 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$2.859 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 100
$823.5 million (31 December 2008)
$2.715 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
grapes, tobacco, vegetables, fruits; milk, eggs
Industries:
food processing, beverages, textiles, chemicals, iron, steel,
cement, energy, pharmaceuticals
Industrial production growth rate:
1.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
Electricity - production:
6.162 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
Electricity - consumption:
7.797 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity - imports:
1.635 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
Oil - consumption:
20,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
Oil - exports:
4,672 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
Oil - imports:
20,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
Natural gas - consumption:
80 million cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
Natural gas - imports:
82 million cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
Current account balance:
-$328 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
-$645.6 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$3.171 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
$2.686 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
food, beverages, tobacco; textiles, miscellaneous manufactures, iron
and steel
Exports - partners:
Germany 20.31%, Greece 13.09%, Italy 11.08%, Bulgaria 10.61%,
Croatia 7.74% (2009)
Imports:
$5.113 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
$4.842 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, automobiles, chemicals, fuels, food products
Imports - partners:
Germany 15.11%, Greece 14.88%, Bulgaria 9.08%, Italy 7.68%, Turkey
7.59%, Slovenia 6.26%, Hungary 4.31% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$2.127 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
$2.292 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$5.52 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
$5.5 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$3.528 billion (31 October 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
$3.357 billion (2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Macedonian denars (MKD) per US dollar - 47.601 (2010), 44.1 (2009),
41.414 (2008), 44.732 (2007), 48.978 (2006)
Communications ::Macedonia
Telephones - main lines in use:
442,200 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 100
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.943 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 135
Telephone system:
general assessment: competition from the mobile-cellular segment of
the telecommunications market has led to a drop in fixed-line
telephone subscriptions
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone
subscribership about 115 per 100 persons
international: country code - 389 (2009)
Broadcast media:
public television broadcaster operates 3 national channels and a
satellite network; 5 privately-owned TV channels broadcast
nationally; roughly 50 local commercial TV stations broadcasting;
large number of cable operators offering domestic and international
programming; public radio broadcaster operates over multiple
stations; 3 privately-owned radio stations broadcast nationally;
roughly 65 local commercial radio stations functioning (2007)
Internet country code:
.mk
Internet hosts:
60,533 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 84
Internet users:
1.057 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 97
Transportation ::Macedonia
Airports:
14 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 149
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
under 914 m: 8 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 3 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 268 km; oil 120 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 699 km
country comparison to the world: 104
standard gauge: 699 km 1.435-m gauge (234 km electrified) (2009)
Roadways:
total: 13,736 km (includes 216 km of expressways) (2009)
country comparison to the world: 126
Military ::Macedonia
Military branches:
Army of the Republic of Macedonia (ARM): Joint Operational Command,
with subordinate Air Wing (Makedonsko Voeno Vozduhoplovstvo, MVV);
Special Operations Regiment; Logistic Support Command; Training
Command (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription
(2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 530,966
females age 16-49: 511,534 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 442,953
females age 16-49: 425,981 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 15,338
female: 14,445 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
6% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
Transnational Issues ::Macedonia
Disputes - international:
Kosovo and Macedonia completed demarcation of their boundary in
September 2008; Greece continues to reject the use of the name
Macedonia or Republic of Macedonia
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: fewer than 1,000 (ethnic conflict in 2001) (2007)
Illicit drugs:
major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and hashish;
minor transit point for South American cocaine destined for Europe;
although not a financial center and most criminal activity is
thought to be domestic, money laundering is a problem due to a
mostly cash-based economy and weak enforcement
page last updated on January 12, 2011
======================================================================
@Madagascar (Africa)
Introduction ::Madagascar
Background:
Formerly an independent kingdom, Madagascar became a French colony
in 1896 but regained independence in 1960. During 1992-93, free
presidential and National Assembly elections were held ending 17
years of single-party rule. In 1997, in the second presidential
race, Didier RATSIRAKA, the leader during the 1970s and 1980s, was
returned to the presidency. The 2001 presidential election was
contested between the followers of Didier RATSIRAKA and Marc
RAVALOMANANA, nearly causing secession of half of the country. In
April 2002, the High Constitutional Court announced RAVALOMANANA the
winner. RAVALOMANANA achieved a second term following a landslide
victory in the generally free and fair presidential elections of
2006. In early 2009, protests over increasing restrictions on
opposition press and activities resulted in RAVALOMANANA stepping
down and the presidency was conferred to the mayor of Antananarivo,
Andry RAJOELINA. Following negotiations in July and August of 2009,
a power-sharing agreement with a 15-month transitional period was
established, but has not yet been implemented.
Geography ::Madagascar
Location:
Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique
Geographic coordinates:
20 00 S, 47 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 587,041 sq km
country comparison to the world: 46
land: 581,540 sq km
water: 5,501 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of Arizona
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
4,828 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or 100 nm from the 2,500-m isobath
Climate:
tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south
Terrain:
narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Maromokotro 2,876 m
Natural resources:
graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, rare earth elements, salt,
quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 5.03%
permanent crops: 1.02%
other: 93.95% (2005)
Irrigated land:
10,860 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
337 cu km (1984)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 14.96 cu km/yr (3%/2%/96%)
per capita: 804 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
periodic cyclones; drought; and locust infestation
volcanism: Madagascar's volcanoes have not erupted in historical
times
Environment - current issues:
soil erosion results from deforestation and overgrazing;
desertification; surface water contaminated with raw sewage and
other organic wastes; several endangered species of flora and fauna
unique to the island
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
world's fourth-largest island; strategic location along Mozambique
Channel
People ::Madagascar
Population:
21,281,844 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
Age structure:
0-14 years: 43.5% (male 4,523,033/female 4,460,473)
15-64 years: 53.5% (male 5,483,684/female 5,557,098)
65 years and over: 3% (male 280,677/female 348,591) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.1 years
male: 17.8 years
female: 18.3 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.993% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
Birth rate:
37.89 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
Death rate:
7.97 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 92
Urbanization:
urban population: 29% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 3.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 52.84 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 47
male: 57.69 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 47.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 63.26 years
country comparison to the world: 175
male: 61.27 years
female: 65.3 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.09 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
14,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 1,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: chikungunya, malaria, and plague
water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Malagasy (singular and plural)
adjective: Malagasy
Ethnic groups:
Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo), Cotiers (mixed
African, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab ancestry - Betsimisaraka,
Tsimihety, Antaisaka, Sakalava), French, Indian, Creole, Comoran
Religions:
indigenous beliefs 52%, Christian 41%, Muslim 7%
Languages:
French (official), Malagasy (official), English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 68.9%
male: 75.5%
female: 62.5% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 10 years
male: 10 years
female: 10 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
2.9% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 152
Government ::Madagascar
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Madagascar
conventional short form: Madagascar
local long form: Republique de Madagascar/Repoblikan'i Madagasikara
local short form: Madagascar/Madagasikara
former: Malagasy Republic
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Antananarivo
geographic coordinates: 18 55 S, 47 31 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
6 provinces (faritany); Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa,
Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara
Independence:
26 June 1960 (from France)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 26 June (1960)
Constitution:
passed by referendum 17 November 2010; promulgated 11 December 2010
(2010)
Legal system:
based on French civil law system and traditional Malagasy law;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Andry RAJOELINA (since 18 March 2009)
head of government: Prime Minister Albert Camille VITAL (since 18
December 2009)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held on 3 December 2006
(next to be held on 4 May 2011); prime minister appointed by the
president
election results: percent of vote - Marc RAVALOMANANA 54.8%, Jean
LAHINIRIKO 11.7%, Roland RATSIRAKA 10.1%, Herizo RAZAFIMAHALEO 9.1%,
Norbert RATSIRAHONANA 4.2%, Ny Hasina ANDRIAMANJATO 4.2%, Elia
RAVELOMANANTSOA 2.6%, Pety RAKOTONIAINA 1.7%, other 1.6%; note -
RAVALOMANANA stepped down on 17 March 2009
note:: on 17 March 2009, democratically elected President Marc
RAVALOMANANA stepped down handing the government over to the
military, which in turn conferred the presidency on opposition
leader and Antananarivo mayor Andry RAJOELINA, who will head the
High Transition Authority; a power-sharing agreement reached in
August 2009 established a 15-month transition period, concluding in
general elections in 2010; as of December 2009 the agreement had not
been fully implemented
Legislative branch:
bicameral legislature consists of a Senate or Senat (100 seats;
two-thirds of the members appointed by regional assemblies; the
remaining one-third appointed by the president; members to serve
four-year terms) and a National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (127
seats - reduced from 160 seats by an April 2007 national referendum;
members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: National Assembly - last held on 23 September 2007 (next
to be held on 16 March 2011); note - a power-sharing agreement in
the summer of 2009 established a 15-month transition, concluding in
general elections